Death my Fear, Dreams my Freedom

I cannot face that dragon
Death.
My will and weapons
are not strong enough
to pierce its hide
and show the wonder behind
the final curtain
with godly grace.
I am more mage than crusader
and my magic has no power here
I cannot write it out
or slay it with mere pen alone.
The endless cloak of night
is forever just in peripheral vision
maddeningly eluding sight
mocking my movements and moments
as it stalks me
in ever decreasing circles
although Time may stretch endlessly on.
I cannot shake its hand
or stare it in the eye,
avoiding it in my weakness
worried about the inevitable loss
its touch will bring.
I am as yet un-lived
with far too many regrets, hopes, dreams, and desires
as yet unfulfilled
to happily venture into the endless desert
of endless night
as my body finally gives up the ghost
and my mortal coil is unspun;
never to contain my essence again
such thoughts bring too much pain.
And so while the dragon curls around me
day by day
second by second,
I look to escape into fantasy
as in my worlds and mind
the dragon death cannot touch me:
as in dreams I am beyond death
that would be a comforting thought
to have in my concluding breath;
'in dreams I am beyond death'.